The deck-replacement project on the Interstate 480 Vally View Bridge will enter a new phase this weekend as the eastbound lanes approaching the bridge will be shifted to the left so that all traffic heading east will begin traveling over a new, four-lane third bridge. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been building that third bridge for a year or more now, so that workers can start the job of replacing the 40-year-old eastbound and westbound decks. The new third bridge sits right in-between those other two decks.

The ODOT website stated the westbound traffic will not be shifted until next fall when attention will turn to the old westbound deck being replaced. In the meantime, lane shifts on the eastbound side will affect traffic flow in these ways:

Mark Sellards | The Bedford Tribune This graphic shows the approach to the bridge coming from the west just past the Interstate-77 and Interstate-480 interchange.

Friday, Sept. 11, at 8 p.m. through Saturday, Sept. 12, at 6 a.m.:
There will be double lane closures beginning at this time in order to shift eastbound traffic onto the new inside I-480 Valley View Bridge deck. Single lane closures will be implemented on Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, September 12, from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Interstate 77 north and southbound exit ramps to I-480 eastbound will be closed in order to shift traffic onto the new bridge. The detour will be I-480 westbound to State Route 17 westbound to I-480 eastbound.

Saturday, September 12, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The I-480 eastbound entrance and exit ramps at Transportation Boulevard will be closed in order to shift the eastbound traffic. The detour for the I-480 eastbound exit to Transportation Boulevard will be Granger Road to I-480 west to Transportation Boulevard. The detour for the Transportation Boulevard entrance to I-480 east will be Granger Road to Broadway Avenue to I-480 eastbound.

All I-480 eastbound traffic will officially be traveling on the new I-480 Valley View Bridge deck beginning Sunday, September 13. This pattern will continue through Fall 2021 as crews work on the existing I-480 eastbound bridge. Eastbound traffic will still have access to the I-77 interchange and the exit to Transportation Boulevard at this time.

The Valley View Bridge was constructed originally with eight lanes, four heading east, and four heading west. When the whole project is completed, the added third bridge deck between the other two will allow six lanes of traffic to travel in both directions altogether. The whole project is scheduled to be completed in June 2024. To learn more about the I-480 bridge project click here. 

Mark Sellards | The Bedford Tribune The new bridge (dark metal colored beams) is shown supported in the middle of the other two bridges Tuesday. Both the eastbound and westbound decks must be redone as they are 40-years-old. Starting Friday, the eastbound lanes will use the new bridge while the eastbound deck is repaired. The westbound deck will be repaired next year.